Devon appeared three thousand meters away, atop a collapsing building in the ruined city.
"Have seen that trick so many times… and it never ceases to amaze me. What was it called again?" a voice said.
"It's been a while, Nick." Devon looked at the towering figure facing the ruined city, back turned to him.
Nick—golden-haired, fur covering his entire body, bearing the distinction of a noble ape with a sculpted frame, a tail, and standing seven to eight feet tall—smirked.
"You are getting tired, aren't you? It's getting infuriating, isn't it?"
He stepped closer.
"No matter how much you try to change it, she must die. And each time… by your hands."
He laughed—then went quiet. His face turned serious.
"Is it worth it? All this… is it really worth it?"
Nick's melancholic gaze locked into Devon's eyes.
Devon didn't reply. He only returned a dead stare.
"Time and time again, you defile the orders of fate. Time and time again, you ruin everything around you just to get what you want… while forgetting—fate's orders are absolute."
A brief pause.
"I believe fate's orders are absolute," Devon said. "But that doesn't matter to me."
Nick suddenly clasped Devon's head with his massive hands.
"No matter how powerful you are, fate stands above us all. It isn't a being, Devon… it's an entity. One that is very much aware of this conversation we're having right now."
Devon shattered Nick's hands—unmoving.
Nick stepped back, regenerating instantly, unangered. He folded his arms.
"Each time I remember… every timeline you've changed… the memories of the fights are etched into my mind."
A pause.
"I'm guessing… a work of fate."
"All I need is your left eye, Nick," Devon said.
Nick touched his left eye.
"Of course you do. You already have the Eyes of Space and Time. One more… and you'd be able to do it. Go back for her."
"It will be different this time," Devon said.
Nick let out a dry laugh.
"Each time I hear those exact words… and it's getting sickening."
"This time, I mean it."
Devon pulled out a black crystal resembling the Milky Way from his coat.
"A void crystal?" Nick's voice trembled. "You killed a god?"
"Savjtar," Devon replied blandly.
"You fool… fate sees all. It must have already made plans. You can't get away with it."
As if on cue—
The city shook. Storms intensified. Lightning tore through the sky.
Then a rift opened.
Instinctively, the beasts across the city fled in the opposite direction.
Five frail figures stepped out.
At their lead—a young boy not looking anything older than ten, roared, his voice echoing through the entire city for everyone to hear.
"Devon Veyron, Deity of Time and Space… you are hereby sentenced to death. On charges I won't even bother stating."
The world cracked even further. Reality seemed to be cracking like glass, storms growing even stronger—a testament to their level of power.
"Stabilize it, Sadean."
Another god stepped forward—and the destruction paused.
"What a feeble-looking world," the boy said. "And yet a deity such as yourself is bound by such limitations. A few low-ranked beasts… and this world is already on the brink of collapse."
Fariel laughed, but he was the only one.
Devon stared at him, his hand already on the hilt of the sword.
"God Fariel, so you're the one they sent. Is fate even serious about stopping me?"
His voice echoed across the battlefield.
Fariel's face twisted in rage as he stepped forward.
"Thank you… for making me witness this version of you."
Devon faced them all, eyes blazing.
Just as Fariel stepped closer, Devon's hand still rested on the hilt of his sword. One movement was all he needed.
"Isn't there a way to change the verdict?" Nick said suddenly, breaking the tension.
"Son of Chaos, stay out of this… lest you join him in death," Fariel warned.
"Apologies, Senior. I spoke out of line," Nick said, stepping back.
Then, quietly—
"What are the chances you succeed?" Nick asked.
"Ten percent," Devon replied.
"And how long?"
"I need thirty seconds for the heavenly chant."
Nick smiled.
"A deity holding off six gods will be written down in history."
He stepped forward, hands folded.
"Very well… let my name be known across the universe."
Lightning surged.
"Nick Birch, Son of Chaos… took on gods all by himself!"
His hammer formed from lightning.
"The World Acura."
He grabbed onto it as his body glowed violet.
He launched at lightning speed towards the gods.
The hammer struck but clashed with something—
CLANK.
A barrier stood there.
"Stop him," Fariel said.
The four gods nodded and stepped forward, each manifesting their various weapons, surrounding Nick completely.
Nick smiled, then launched.
He took them all on, his hammer parrying the strikes. He struck back but missed—these gods were not just randoms; they were strong, the cream of the crop.
Nick's attacks were being parried with ease.
But not the same for him—his body was riddled with injuries.
He let out a battle cry and launched again. This time, his hammer connected with a god, sending the god flying several meters through the buildings.
But the attack left his back defenseless, giving Sadean—the female god from earlier—a chance.
She slashed and cut off his hand that held the hammer. The hammer fell, but he grew a new hand instantly before he could call it back.
The rest of the gods grabbed onto him.
While Sadean ran a sword through his neck, completely severing it.
All this had happened in the span of a few seconds.
Nick glanced toward Devon.
Still chanting.
Fariel saw that the nuisance had been dealt with and started moving toward Devon, still sitting down, a runic circle around him.
Nick stared through gritted teeth.
Not enough time.
"Pathetic. I expected more," Sadean said.
Nick grinned through blood.
"Don't look down on me… woman."
Then he screamed—
"Sveeeeeen!"
A roar shook the city.
A massive lion-like beast burst from the ground. Its eyes connected to Nick.
Anger burned in its eyes.
"Ignore me, I will be fine, but you must protect him," Nick commanded.
Sven charged, using his body to shield Devon.
Devon opened an eye, then smiled. He continued chanting. Calm. Steady.
Fariel moved to strike.
Sven launched at him but was sent flying with a single slap.
He grabbed Devon's neck and twisted—
But Devon's eyes remained closed.
The chant didn't stop.
He smiled as he raised his hand.
Sven stood again.
Its body doubled in size. Gold turned crimson. Flames replaced fur.
It roared.
The force from the roar made Fariel release Devon.
Sven struck—
sending him flying across the city.
Nick laughed weakly.
"Haa… you underestimated my siege. The final form of Sven… rivals a deity."
The other gods advanced.
Their shadows closed in.
Devon opened his eyes.
"It is time."
He placed a hand on Sven's head, who was still protecting him.
"It's ok, I will make everything right."
Then he nodded toward Nick.
The gods struck, the attack crushing the entire building.
Devon was no longer there. He had vanished a few moments before the impact.